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BOOKS BY 

Laura Rountree smith 


THE TALE OF BUNNY COTTON-TAIL 

Pricey 25 cents 

BUNNY BOY AND GRIZZLY BEAR 

Pricey 25 cents 


BUNNY BRIGHT EYES 


Price, 25 cents 


THREE LITTLE COTTON-TAILS 

Price, 25 cents 


LITTLE BEAR 


Price, 30 cents 


SEVENTEEN LITTLE BEARS 

Price, 30 cents 


LITTLE ESKIMO 


Price, 30 cents 


MOTHER GOOSE STORIES IN PROSE 

Price, 30 cents 

HAWK EYE (An Indian Story Reader) 

Price, 30 cents 


THE ROLY-POLY BOOK 


Price, 35 cents 





Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. 

A Sequel to 

The Tale of Bunny Cotton-Tail 


By LAURA ROUNTREE SMITH 


Copyright 1912 


A. FLANAGAN COMPANY 


CHICAGO 


To a small house in the woods 
A little rabbit came. 

Then said Bunny Cotton-Tail, 

“I wish I knew your namel” 

©C1.A330016 




















BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


CHAPTER I 

Oke winter evening Bunny and 
Susan Cotton-Tail were sitting before 
the fire, warming their paws. 

“Oh, dearl oh, dear!” cried Susan 
Cotton-Tail. , 

“Why! what is the matter?” asked 
Bunny. “Have you lost your glasses?” 

“Oh, dear! oh, dear!” said Susan 
again. “We are growing old. Bunny, 
and we have no little Cotton-tails for 
company! ” 

“ Where are all our grandchildren ? ” 
asked Bunny Cotton-Tail. “Where is 

7 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Snubby-Nose ? Where is Bunny Bright- 
Eyes?” 

“Oh, dear! oh, dear!” said Susan. 
“I wish we had a little rabbit that 
would live with us always I ” 

Just then they heard something. 

“What is that?” cried Bunny. 

“What is that?” cried Susan. 

It was a little voice they heard. 

“Somebody come quick! Somebody 
come quick!” it called. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail went to the 
front door, and out in the yard he 
saw a little rabbit, half-buried in a 
snowdrift! 

Bunny ran out and picked up the 
little rabbit and carried him into 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


9 


the house. He set him down before 
the fire, 

“Well, who are you ? ” asked Bunny 
Cotton-Tail. 

“And where did you come from?” 
asked Susan. 

“How did you get here?” asked 
Bunny Cotton-Tail. 

“Are you hungry?” asked Susan. 

The little rabbit stood quite still. 
He did not answer at all, but blinked 
his eyes and waved his long ears to 
and fro. 

“Perhaps he is deaf and dumb,” 
said Susan. 

“Perhaps his tongue is frozen,” said 
Bunny Cotton-Tail. 


10 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Just then the strange little rabbit 
jumped closer to the lire and burned 
his paw on the hot bricks of the 
hearth. Then he set up a howl. 

Bunny and Susan were busy, you 
may be sure. They got liniment and 
flour and put them on the burned 
paw and bound it up. 

“He is not deaf and dumb!” said 
Bunny Cotton-Tail, with a twinkle in 
his eye. 

Then the little rabbit began to talk 
very fast. 

“I don’t know who I am,” he said, 
“but some one put me into a basket 
and I jumped out and ran away!” 

“My fur and whiskers! it is a cold 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


11 


night to run away!” said Bunny 
Cotton-Tail. 

“What is your name ? ” asked Susan 
Cotton-Tail. 

The little rabbit shook his head. 

“I don’t know,” said he. 

“We must find you a name,” said 
Susan, and she put on her spectacles 
and began reading names from the 
dictionary. 

Suddenly Bunny Cotton-Tail set up 
a shout. He laughed so hard that 
Susan looked at him sharply over her 
spectacles. 

What do you suppose made Bunny 
Cotton-Tail laugh ? 

“I have a name for this little 


12 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


fellow,” he cried. “We will call him 
Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr.” 

“Of course! ” cried Susan. “He looks 
like you, and he has burned his 
paw! ” 

(Bunny Cotton-Tail had once burned 
his paw when he was reading by 
candle-light.) 

“Hurrah!” the strange little rabbit 
cried. “I have a name! And I am 
like the Teddy Bears; I have come 
to stay.” 

“Who are the Teddy Bears?” 
Bunny Cotton-Tail asked. “We know 
all about the old bear Grandpa 
Grumbles, but we have never heard 
of the Teddy Bears.” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


13 


Then Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. cried 
out: 

“Where is my traveling bag? I 
must have my traveling bag! Some¬ 
body please find it, quick I ” 

Bunny .went out and looked in the 
snowdrift where Bunny Cotton-Tail 
Jr. had been found and there, sure 
enough, was a brown leather travel¬ 
ing bag. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. opened the 
bag and took out a little Teddy 
Bear. 

Then he told Bunny and Susan 
that all the children liked Teddy 
Bears, and Bunny said: 

“We have lived in the woods so 


14 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


long that we don’t know what is going 
on in the world.” 

Then Susan got a blue ribbon and 
tied it around the Teddy Bear’s neck. 

Suddenly Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. 
said, “Show me Glrandpa Glrumbles, 
the big bear! ” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail shook his head 
and laughed. 

“I can’t show him to you to-night,” 
he said. 

And Susan said, “I will get some 
cookies and then we will go to bed.” 

So they all ate some cookies and 
then they went to bed. 

After Bunny and Susan had gone 
to bed. Bunny said: 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR 


15 


“Why doesn’t that youngster put 
out his light ? ” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. still had his 
candle burning. 

Susan crept out of bed and went 
on tip-toe to the door of the room 
where Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. was. 

What do you suppose that little 
rabbit was doing? He was reading 
by candle-light! 

“Ha, ha!” cried Susan, “we have 
given you the right name, sure enough! 
Bunny Cotton-Tail always used to sit 
up late and read by candle-light.” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. looked rather 
ashamed, but all he said was, “Oh, my 
sore paw! how it does hurt!” 


16 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Susan said: “You dear little fellow! 
I will take you into our room to 
sleep.” 

So Susan took Bunny Cotton-Tail 
Jr. in her arms and carried him into 
the other room. Then she and Bunny 
went up into the garret and brought 
down a nice little crib. 

Bunny and Susan put the crib 
beside their large bed and laid Bunny 
Jr. in it. Then Bunny put out the 
light. 

“Now, we will go to sleep,” said he. 

But Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. sat bolt 
upright in bed. 

“What is that sound?” he said in 
his squeaky little voice. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


17 


“I don’t hear any sound,” said Susan 
Cotton-Tail. 

Still Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. sat up 
in bed. 

“I hear a sound; yes, truly, I hear 
a sound,” said he. 

“It is some one at the front door,” 
said Susan. “G-o down and see who 
is there.” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. jumped out 
of his crib and went downstairs as 
fast as his little legs could carry him. 

“He is a brave little fellow to go 
down in the dark,” said Bunny 
Cotton-Tail. 



Poor old Grandpa Grumbles 
Is such a lonesome bear! 

No one likes to live with him-— 
’Tis sad, I do declare! 


















CHAPTER II 


Bhhhy Cotton-Tail Jr. opened the 
door and there stood a big old bear. 

The old bear said, “It is a cold 
night to keep company waiting on 
the doorstep! ” 

“Will you come in?” asked Bunny 
Cotton-Tail Jr., politely. 

The bear came in, and he shouted: 

“What is your name? Where are 
Bunny and Susan? It is too late to 
talk. Let us go to bed!” 

He had shocking manners I 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. called Bunny 
and Susan. 

“Do come downstairs,” he said. 
“We have a visitor.” 


19 


20 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“Turn on the gas or light a candle! ” 
cried the bear. 

Then Bunny and Susan came down¬ 
stairs in their dressing gowns. 

“Oh, ho! ” cried Bunny. “What are 
you doing out at this hour of the 
night, Orandpa Girumbles?” 

Then the old bear began to 
grumble. 

“It’s a lonesome business, living all 
alone in the woods,” he said; “a very 
lonesome business.” 

Susan Cotton-Tail had lighted a 
candle, and then Grandpa Grumbles 
caught sight of the Teddy Bear. 

“How do you do, sir?” he shouted, 
“How do you do?” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 21 

The Teddy Bear sat perfectly still 
in the chair where Bunny Cotton- 
Tail Jr. had put him. 

“Where is your tongue? Speak 
up, sir!” shouted Grandpa Grumbles. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. began to 
laugh and he laughed until he cried. 

“He is only a make-believe bear, 
Grandpa Grumbles,” said Susan. 

Then Grandpa Grumbles began to 
scold, but Bunny got him a rocking- 
chair and made him sit down. 

“What brings you out so late?” 
Susan asked. 

Grandpa Grumbles carried a huge 
green cotton umbrella. He shook it 
now, in a fierce way, and said: 


22 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“I tell you it’s a lonesome business, 
living alone. My little rabbit friend 
went away, and there I sit all alone 
for breakfast, dinner, and supper. I 
think I will advertise for a boarder.” 

“Will you come and live with us?” 
asked Susan, rubbing her sleepy eyes. 

“I like my own home,” said Grandpa 
Grumbles. “You must find some one 
to stay with me.” 

“Let us sleep on the matter,” said 
Bunny Cotton-Tail, and they all 
started for bed. 

“Very steep stairs for an old man,” 
said Grandpa Grumbles. 

“Lean on my shoulder; I will help 
you,” said Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


23 


Bunny and Susan whispered to each 
other till very late that night, but 
Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. fell fast asleep 
at once. 

Next morning Grandpa Grumbles 
woke early. 

“Somebody get my breakfast, quick!” 
he called. 

Then those dear little rabbits got 
up and got breakfast. Bunny Cotton- 
Tail Ji‘. carried Grandpa Grumbles’s 
breakfast up to him on a tray. 

“The coffee is too hot, and the toast 
is cold,” said the old bear crossly. 
He was very rude! 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. said: 

“I should like to see your little 


24 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


house in the woods. I should like 
to visit you,” 

“Too many visitors,” shouted Grand¬ 
pa Grumbles. “They all wish to visit 
me, but no one will stay!” 

Bunny and Susan put on their 
thinking-caps and thought hard all 
the morning. They were trying to 
think of some one who would live 
with Grandpa Grumbles. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. was a clever 
little rabbit. He got dinner all by 
himself. He found a high-chair in 
the dining room and he said: 

“Ho, ho! I shall have some fun.” 

He put a chair at the table for 
Bunn}'^ and Susan, and a chair for 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


25 


Grandpa Grumbles, and one for him¬ 
self. Then he put the high-chair at 
the table and in it put his Teddy 
Bear, 

When Bunny Cotton-Tail and Susan 
and Grandpa Grumbles came out to 
dinner, they all set up a shout and 
cried: 

“See the Teddy Bear! See him 
sitting at the table!” 

Just then there was heard a crash 
and Bushy-Tail the fox jumped in 
through the window. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail scolded and 
Grandpa grumbled, and Susan said 
under her breath, “I must hide my 
cookies.” 


26 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. sat very still 
in his chair. 

Then the most surprising thing 
happened! Bushy-Tail caught sight 
of the Teddy Bear and he cried: 

‘‘Oh, oh, oh! I don’t like the looks 
of that stranger! ” 

Then Bushy-Tail jumped out of 
the window and was gone. 

“He did not steal any cookies this 
time,” said Susan. 

“He has broken my window again,” 
said Bunny. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. said, “Three 
cheers for my Teddy Bear!” 

Then Grandpa Grumbles got up 
and cried: 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


27 


“Hurrah! hurrah! I will have a 
Teddy Bear! I must have a Teddy 
Bear!” 

Then Bunny Cotton-Tail and Susan 
and Bunny Jr, laughed and shouted: 

“Hurrah! Grandpa shall have a 
Teddy Bear!” 

“Where shall you get one?” asked 
Susan. 

Grandpa Grumbles shook his head 
sadly. 

“We will go to town and get 
you a Teddy Bear,” Bunny Cotton- 
Tail cried. 

So next day Bunny and Susan 
went to town, to buy a Teddy Bear. 
That is to say, they started for 


28 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


town. They had to go through the 
woods to get there. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. stayed at 
home, to keep house. 

Grandpa Grumbles said he must 
go home. 

“I wish you could spend the day 
with me,” said Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. 

Grandpa Grumbles shook his head 
and said: 

“How can I stay with you when 
there may be a mouse in my mouse¬ 
trap! The mice will eat me out of 
house and home! ” 

So Grandpa Grumbles went home 
to see if there was a mouse in his 
mouse-trap. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


29 


“Don’t let any one in,” Susan 
called to Bunny Jr., as she went 
down the road. 

“You have forgotten the broken 
window,” said Bunny Cotton-Tail. 

But Grandpa Grumbles had not 
forgotten the broken window. He 
came back that very day, and put 
in a new glass. 

Then he said to Bunny Cotton- 
Tail Jr: 

“Put your Teddy Bear in the 
window and Bushy-Tail will not 
come in.” 

So the Teddy Bear stood in the 
window, and Bushy-Tail did not come 
back that day. 


See the little Teddy Bears! 

They are bright, you know. 
With our friends the Cotton-Tails 
Through the woods they go. 



CHAPTEE III 


Bunny and Susan Cotton-Tail went 
happily down the road until they 
came to the deep woods. 

“Oh, oh, oh!” cried Susan Cotton- 
Tail, “I have hurt my ankle!” Sure 
enough, she had hurt her ankle so 
she could not take a step. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail was a clever 
rabbit. 

“Wait here, my dear,” he said. 
“I shall soon be back.” 

Now where do you suppose Bunny 
Cotton-Tail went 9 He went to a 
wood-cutter’s house and borrowed a 
wheelbarrow. 

When Susan Cotton-Tail saw Bunny 


32 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


coming with the wheelbarrow, she 
laughed and said: 

“Oh, ho! so I am to have a ride!” 

Bunny helped Susan into the wheel¬ 
barrow, and he wheeled her along 
through the woods. 

Suddenly he stopped short and 
began to whistle. 

“What is the matter?” asked Susan. 

“My fur and whiskers!” said Bunny, 
“I believe we are lost! ” 

“What fun!” cried Susan. “I am 
not a bit afraid.” 

“But we are going to town to 

get a Teddy Bear for Grandpa 
Grumbles,” said Bunny. 

Then he started on, and all day 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


33 


he wandered about in the woods, 
trying to find the right road. At 



Suddenly Susan sat straight up in 
the wheelbarrow and pointed ahead. 
“What is that?” she cried out. 







34 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“It is a light,” said Bunny. 

“Let us go on,” said Susan. 

So they went on, and they soon 
came to the dearest little house in 
the world. There was a candle in 
one of the windows. 

Bunny left Susan in the wheel¬ 
barrow and went up to the door 
and knocked. And who do you 
suppose came to the door? Two 
dear little bears, and they waved 
their paws, which meant for the 
visitors to come in. 

The little bears were real, live 
Teddy Bears, and when Susan saw 
them she was so surprised and de¬ 
lighted that she forgot all about 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


35 


her hurt ankle. She hopped out of 
the wheelbarrow and she and Bunny 
went into the little house. 

The Teddy Bears were so young 
that they had not yet learned to 
talk, but they could understand all 
that was said to them. 

“Will one of you go to live with 
Grandpa Grumbles?” Bunny asked. 

Both the Teddy Bears shook their 
heads. Whatever one bear did, the 
other did. 

Teddy Boy went and got Susan 
a plate of cookies, and Teddy Girl 
got Bunny a plate of cookies. 

Then Bunny Cotton-Tail said, “It 
is getting late.” 


36 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“May we stay here to-night?” 
asked Susan. 

The little bears nodded their heads 
and they took Bunny and Susan 
into the next room, where there 
were two beds. 

Then Susan and Bunny kissed the 
Teddy Bears good-night, and the 
little bears trotted otf to their own 
little beds. 

So they all went to sleep, and 
when they opened their eyes it was 
morning. 

The two Teddy Bears got a fine 
breakfast, and Bunny and Susan 
enjoyed it, you may be sure! 

“Now, will you go home with us?” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


37 


asked Susan when breakfast was 
over. 

This time the Teddy Bears nodded 
their heads, and Bunny Cotton-Tail 
cried: 

“My fur and whiskers! what shall 
we do with the wheelbarrow?” 

“We will wheel the Teddy Bears 
in it, and you may take it back 
to its owner to-morrow,” said Susan. 

So the Teddy Bears jumped into 
the wheelbarrow, and Bunny and 
Susan wheeled them home. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. ran down 
the road to meet them. He hugged 
both the Teddy Bears at once and 
said to Bunny: 


38 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“Grandpa Grumbles has put new 
glass in the window, and he says 
he is tired waiting for you!” 

When they got to the house, there 
stood Grandpa Grumbles, green cotton 
umbrella and all. 

When he saw that Bunny and 
Susan had brought two Teddy Bears, 
he shouted: 

“I will keep only one of them! 
I will keep only one of them! I 
cannot fill my house with Teddy 
Bears.” 

Then the Teddy Bears looked as 
though they would cry, for they did 
not wish to be separated. 

“No tears, now, my fine fellows!” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


39 


Grandpa Grumbles said, “no tears! 
I can take you both for a while, 
but I may take you home any day.” 

Susan said: “They are such dear 
little bears. Grandpa! I know you 
will wish to keep both of them.” 

“We’ll see,” said Grandpa Grumbles. 
“We’ll see. You never can tell! But 
no tears, my fine fellows, no tears! ” 
Then they all laughed, for Grandpa 
Grumbles was such a funny old bear. 
He always grumbled, no matter what 
happened. 



Poor old Susan Cotton-Tail 
Will not speak a word. 

She has lost her spectacles,— 
’Tis really quite absurd! 



CHAPTER IV 


Mr. and Mrs, Teddy Bear lived 
with their two children in the woods. 
They had gone away for a short 
visit, and when they got back Teddy 
Boy and Teddy Girl were gone! 

Mr. Teddy Bear walked all around 
the house and he said, “I do not 
see the print of their little feet!” 

Of course the little bears had not 
left the print of their feet around 
the house, for Bunny and Susan had 
taken them off in the wheelbarrow! 
Besides, it was snowing hard and the 
snow had covered up even the tracks 
of the wheelbarrow. 

Mrs. Teddy Bear said, “Where can 

41 


42 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


my dear little children be?” and 
began to cry. 

Just then Mr. Teddy Bear set up a 
shout. 

“Visitors have been herel Visitors 
have been here!” he cried. 

“How do you know?” asked Mrs. 
Teddy Bear. 

Mr. Teddy Bear did not answer 
a word, but he got up on a chair 
and waved a pair of spectacles to 
and fro. 

“They must belong to the person 
who has taken our little bears away,” 
said Mrs. Teddy Bear. 

“We will go to see Mr. Owl,” 
said Mr. Teddy Bear. “He is a 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


43 


wise old fellow; he will tell us where 
to look for our children.” 

So Mr. and Mrs. Teddy Bear put 
on warm wraps and went out. 

In the meantime Grandpa Grum¬ 
bles had taken Teddy Boy and 
Teddy Girl home. They were so 
little that he carried them in his 
overcoat pocket. 

“It is pretty dark in this pocket,” 
thought Teddy Boy. 

“It is pretty lonely here,” thought 
Teddy Girl. 

But they did not say a word, for 
they were such little bears that they 
had not yet learned to talk. 

It happened that Grandpa Grum- 


44 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


bles was thinking about that very 
thing. As he went along he began 
to sing in a gruff voice: 

^ ^Grandpa Grumbles in the woods 
Has a house so wee; 

But there’s room for Teddy Boy, 

Teddy Girl, and me! 

Your voices, my dear little bears, 

I think I should have heard. 

Now you are old enough to talk. 

Your silence is absurd!” 

Then what do you suppose those 
funny little bears did? They both 
tried to talk at the same time, and 
they found they could talk as well 
as anybodyl They soon learned the 
nonsense rhyme that Orandpa Grum¬ 
bles had made up. 

When they came to Grandpa’s 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


45 


house, Teddy Boy said “I am afraid 
to go ini” 

And Teddy Giirl said, “I am afraid 
to go in!” 

For once Girandpa Grumbles was 
just as pleasant as could be, and he 
talked so kindly to those two dear 
little bears that soon they were quite 
willing to go into his house. So 
he opened the door and took Teddy 
Boy and Teddy Girl in. 

He gave them each a little red 
rocking-chair by the fire. He also 
gave them each a lump of sugar, 
and for a while they were as happy 
as could be. 

Then two great tears began to 


46' BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 

roll down Teddy Boy’s cheeks, and 
Teddy Girl began to cry, “Boo-hoo!” 

“We wish to go home!” they both 
sobbed. 

Then Grandpa Grumbles went and 
got them each an apple, and said, 
“If yon are good, I will tell you a 
story! ” 

But Teddy Girl and Teddy Boy 
made such a fuss that Grandpa 
could not tell a story. Teddy Boy 
said, “I want my Ma! ” and Teddy 
Girl said, “I want my Pa!” and poor 
old Grandpa Grumbles did not know 
what to do! 

I suppose Teddy Boy and Teddy 
Girl would have kept on crying for 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


47 


an hour, if something surprising had 
not happened. Suddenly a queer 
foxy voice cried out: 

“Here I am in the kitchen, and 
supper is ready!” 

And there at the kitchen door 
stood Bushy-Tail, with a long calico 
apron on. He had a fine supper 
ready, but he would not sit down 
at the table himself. He served the 
supper. 

Grandpa Grumbles looked up from 
his plate only once, and then he said, 
“Bushy-Tail, what made you think 
of this?” 

Bushy-Tail looked cross-eyed (he 
always looked cross-eyed when he 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


felt wicked) and he said, “I have 
an ax to grind.” 

Do you know what Bushy-Tail 
meant? He meant there was some¬ 
thing he wished Grandpa Grumbles 
to do for him. 

When they had finished supper 
Teddy Boy and Teddy Girl ran to 
the front window, and what do you 
suppose they saw? Why, Mr. and 
Mrs. Teddy Bear coming along the 
path through the woods! 

Teddy Boy rapped on the window, 
and Mr. and Mrs. Teddy Bear 
turned and ran up the walk. In 
less than no time they had those 
two dear little bears in their arms. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


49 


“Take them home!” growled Grand¬ 
pa Grumbles. “Too many visitors!” 
Then he waved his green cotton 
umbrella in a very fierce way. 

So all the Teddy Bears said, “Good¬ 
evening,” and went home. 

Bushy-Tail looked cross-eyed again. 
Then he said: 

“You need company and I need 
a home. Suppose I should live with 
you! ” 

Grandpa Grumbles shook Bushy- 
Tail’s paw, but he grumbled: 

“I don’t believe you mean it, and 
I don’t believe we shall get on 
together at alb, but you may stay, 
if you will work.” 


Now, little Bunny Cotton-Tail, 
You’ll find it a safe rule 
To leave old Bushy-Tail alone. 
Or he’ll cry, “April Fool!” 


CHAPTER V 


SusAH Cottoh-Tail sat by the fire. 
She felt very sad, for she had no 
glasses. 

Poor Susan could hardly see at 
all without her glasses, so she sat 
by the fire and sighed. 

P)unny Cotton-Tail said: “My dear 
Susan, where do you think you lost 
your glasses?” 

Susan shook her head. She felt 
too sad to speak. 

“Let me go and try to find your 
glasses,” said Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. 

“I cannot remember being out of 
the house,” said Susan at last. 

Then Bnnny Cotton-Tail Jr. cried, 

51 


52 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“Why, you went to get the Teddy 
Bears!” and Susan said, “Why, sure 
enough! I went to get the Teddy 
Bears! ” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. did not say 
another word. He just slipped out 
of the house very quietly, and ran 
down the road. Where do you 
suppose he was going? 

He was going to ask the Teddy 
Bears if they had seen Susan Cotton- 
Tail’s glasses. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. ran very 
fast and he got out of breath, of 
course; so when he came to Hrandpa 
Grrumbles’s house he sat down on 
the doorstep to rest. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


53 


Grrandpa Grumbles happened to 
look out of the window, and he 
shouted: 

“Too many visitors! I will not 
invite you in!” 

“I don’t wish to come in I ” said 
Bunny Jr. “Grandma Susan Cotton- 
Tail has lost her glasses, and I 
thought I’d ask the Teddy Bears if 
they had seen them,” 

Just then Bushy-Tail opened the 
door and ran out. He had a big 
bag of cookies in his paw. When 
Grandpa Grumbles saw that he was 
going to be left alone in the house 
he changed his tune, and called: 

“Come in, little Cotton-Tail. The 


54 BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 

Teddy Bears have gone home, but 
come in and rest a while.” 

Then Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. went 
in and talked to Grandpa Grumbles. 
He was so tired that he stayed till 
it grew very late. 

“You had better spend the night 
with me,” said Grandpa Grumbles 
at last. “You can look for the 
glasses to-morrow.” 

So Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. took a 
candle and went upstairs. 

Pretty soon he heard the patter, 
patter, patter, of feet outside the 
house. He looked out of the window 
and saw Bushy-Tail coming up the 
walk. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


55 



Bushy-Tail bounded into the house 
and shouted in a very loud voice: 

“I’ve found Susan Cotton-Tail’s 
glasses 1 I’ve found Susan Cotton- 



56 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Tail’s glasses! And I am going to 
keep them; do you hear?” 

“Oh, ho!” thought Bunny Cotton- 
Tail Jr., “we will see whether you 
keep poor Grandma Susan’s glasses 
or not!” 

“Poor Susan cannot see at all 
without her glasses,” said Grandpa 
Grumbles. 

“I am going to keep them!” 
shouted Bushy-Tail. “If you say 
another word about it, I will break 
them in pieces!” 

Grandpa Grumbles went upstairs 
to bed, scolding and grumbling all 
the way. 

Bushy-Tail lay down on a rug by 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


57 


the fire, and soon they were all 
asleep. 

Very early next morning the most 
surprising thing happened! The door¬ 
bell rang three times and Bushy- 
Tail went to the door, but there 
was no one there. 

Then the door-bell rang twice 
and Grandpa Grumbles went to the 
door, and what do you suppose he 
saw? Teddy Boy and Teddy Girl 
standing on the doorstep! Teddy 
Boy wore a little blue coat and 
blue cap, and Teddy Girl wore a 
little red coat and red cap. 

Before Grandpa Grumbles could 
say a word, Teddy Boy jumped 


58 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


into one of his coat pockets and 
Teddy Girl jumped into another 
coat pocket, and so they went into 
the house. And those funny little 
bears shouted: 

“Ma and Pa have gone away, 
and so we have come to stay with 
you, Grandpa! ” 

“Perhaps I shall go away, too,” 
said old Grandpa Grumbles, but he 
laughed when he said it. 

Bushy-Tail looked cross-eyed and 
he said: 

“Why don’t you visit me? I have 
a nice home in the woods.” 

But all that the little bears said 
was, “We are hungry!” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


59 


“Somebody get breakfast! It must 
be high time!” shouted Gfrandpa 
Grumbles. 

Bushy-Tail put on Susan Cotton- 
Tail’s glasses, just for fun, and began 
to get breakfast. And Grandpa 
Grumbles took off the Teddy Bears’ 
coats and caps. 

When they sat down at the table 
the little bears behaved quite badly. 
Teddy Boy said, “I don’t like coffee,” 
and Teddy Girl said, “I don’t like 
tea.” 

But Grandpa Grumbles was not 
a bit cross. He only laughed and 
said: “I believe even Teddy Bears 
can grumble.” 


60 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Grandpa always forgot to be cross 
when any one else grumbled. 

“Oh! oh! oh!” shouted Bunny 
Cotton-Tail Jr. just then. “See the 
butterfly! See the butterfly with 
yellow wings! ” 

Now of course it was much too 
cold for butterflies, but no one 
thought of that. 

“Where? where? where?” they all 
shouted at once, and everybody 
jumped up from the table and ran 
to the window. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. said: “Lend 
me those glasses, quick, so I can 
see better! ” 

So Bushy Tail gave Bunny Cotton- 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


61 


Tail Jr. the glasses, and they all 
cried: 

“Show us the butterfly! Where is 
the butterfly ?” 

And what do you suppose hap¬ 
pened next? 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. ran out at 
the door and away, as fast as his 
little legs could carry him, and he 
had Susan’s glasses held tight in his 
paw! 

“That sly little rabbit has played 
a trick on me!” cried Bushy-Tail. 
“ITow I have a bone to pick with 
him. I meant to have some fun with 
those glasses, and I will yet!” 

“Where on earth did you get Susan 


62 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Cotton-Tail’s glasses?” asked Grandpa 
Grumbles. 

“Mr. Teddy Bear gave them to 
me,” said Bushy-Tail. 

He did not tell Grandpa that Mr. 
Teddy Bear had asked him to take 
the glasses to their owner. He just 
went on scolding about what Bunny 
Cotton-Tail Jr. had done. 

Bushy-Tail made such a noise that 
Grandpa Grumbles could not stand 
it. So he got the little red coat 
and cap and put them on Teddy 
Girl, and he got the little blue coat 
and cap and put them on Teddy 
Boy. Then he put those two dear 
little Teddy Bears on a sled and 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


63 


took them for a long ride through 
the woods. 

Bushy-Tail was left alone, and he 
began to repeat poetry. This is the 
verse he said: 

‘^Now, little Bunny Cotton-Tail, 

You’ll find it a safe rule 
To leave old Bushy-Tail alone, 

Or he’ll cry, ^April Fool!’” 

Then Bushy-Tail began to chuckle. 
He sat down in a chair and laughed 
aloud. He laughed so hard that he 
fell out of the chair. And what do 
you suppose amused him? 

He was thinking about some jokes 
he would play on April Fool’s Hay. 
And it was coming soon. 


64 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 



“I will play a fine joke on Bunny 
Cotton-Tail Jr.,” Bushy-Tail said. 













BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


65 


Bushy-Tail was still laughing when 
Grandpa Grumbles and the Teddy 
Bears got home. 

Everybody was cheerful, for Grandpa 
had given Teddy Boy and Teddy Girl 
a fine ride. And those two little 
bears liked the sled so much that 
they sat on it all day long and played 
they were riding. 



If I had my glasses 
I could see quite well. 


Where I may have lost them 
I really cannot tell. 


CHAPTER VI 


BiJHisrY Cotton-Tail Jr. hiirried 
homeward. He was so glad he had 
Susan Cotton-Tail’s glasses! 

“I wonder what trick Bnshy-Tail 
will play next,” he said to himself. 
He had no sooner spoken than a 
voice said: 

^^Bushy-Tail is a sly old fox; 

Now he will have some fun. 

April Fool’s Day is almost here, 

So Bunny had better run!” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. looked up. 
There, in a tree, sat Mr. Owl. 

“Hello, Mr. Owll” said he. “How 
do you happen to know so much 
about me ? ” 

WiW you believe it? The owl did 

67 


68 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


not answer; he pretended to be 
asleep. 

It was evening when Bunny Jr. 
got home and the house was quite 
dark. He tiled to open the door, 
but it was locked. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. did not 
know what to make of this, so he 
sat down on the doorstep, to think. 
Then he looked about and there, on 
the house, he saw a big sign: 

To Let. 

Then Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. began 
to cry. 

“What does this mean?” he sobbed. 
“Where are Grandpa Bunny and 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


69 


Grandma Susan? Where have they 
gone ?” 

Jnst then the funniest thing hap¬ 
pened. Bunny Cotton-Tail stuck his 
head out of the window and called, 
“Is the skating good?” 

Then Bunny Jr. sat np straight 
and sobbed, “Oh, Grandpa! I am so 
glad you are at home!” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail came down and 
let the little fellow in. And Bunny 
told Bunny Jr. that Susan was so 
put out about her glasses that she 
liad gone to bed. She said she was 
as blind as a bat, and it made her 
feel one lumdred years old to be so 
blind. 


70 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“Why did you put up that sign, 
‘To Let’?” asked Bunny Jr. 

“I heard that there was a famous 
eye doctor in the woods, and that 
he was looking for a house,” said 
Bunny Cotton-Tail. “I hoped he might 
see the sign and come here. Then 
Susan could get some new glasses.” 

“Oh, let me pretend to be the eye 
doctor!” said Bunny Jr. “What fun! 
Ha, ha, ha!” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail and Bunny 
Cotton-Tail Jr. whispered a long time 
together by the fire. First Bunny 
Cotton-Tail would chuckle, and then 
Bunny Jr. would giggle. 

At last Susan woke up. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


71 


“Who is ill my house at this hour 
of the night?” she called down to 
Bunny. 

“It is an old friend of mine,” he 
answered. “I am sorry we wakened 
you.” Then Susan said: 

I had my glasses, 

I could see quite well; 

Where I may have lost them 
I really cannot tell!” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail whispered some¬ 
thing to Bunny Jr. and they crept 
upstairs and went quietly to bed. 

Early next morning, while Bunny 
was giving Susan her breakfast, there 
was a rap at the front door and in 
walked a funny little creature. He 


72 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


had on a suit of green clothes and 
a green cap, and he caiaied a 
green bag. 

“I am the eye doctor,” ho said 
in a shrill little voice, “and I have 
come to rent this house.” 

“Oh, oh, oh!” cried Susan, “do 
give me a pair of glasses!” 

The little eye doctor said: “I 
must see the house first. How can 
I fit glasses if I have no house 
to live in ? ” 

“Please help me! ” said Susan. 
“I am as blind as a bat to-day.” 

Then the eye doctor put a pair 
of black glasses on Susan and she 
said, “I cannot see at all.” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


73 


Then he tried some other glasses 
on her and she said, “I see every¬ 
thing upside down 1 ” 

Then he put her own glasses on 
her and she cried, “I can see 
everything in the room!” 

“I will rent this house to-morrow,” 
said the eye doctor, in his funny 

little voice. “Show me all over 
the place now! ” 

“Oh, dear! we don’t wish to rent 
our house!” said Susan. 

But the eye doctor said he must 
have it, and Bunny took him all 

over the house. 

“It is perfect,” said the doctor. 

“Every room is pleasant. I will 


74 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


move in to-morrow.” Then he bowed 
politely and went away. 

“Oh, ohl” cried Susan. “Bunny 
dear, why did you put up that 
sign ‘To Let’ ? I knew it would 
get us into trouble.” 

“ISTever mind,” said Bunny. “We 
will go on a visit, my dear.” 

So Bunny and Susan got out 
their traveling bags and packed. 

Next morning they were sitting 
by the fire, talking. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail said, “You can 
see well now, Susan.” 

“Yes,” Susan replied, “but I don’t 
wish to leave my own dear little 
home!” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


75 


Susan Cotton-Tail was wiping her 
eyes when the most surprising thing 
happened. In came the eye doctor 
with a single bound. He took otf 
his hat and coat, and made a bow 
and said; 

“Good-morning! How did you like 
my joke?” 

When Susan saw that the eye 
doctor was not a stranger, but only 
Bunny Jr., she laughed until she 
cried. 

“But where did you get the 
glasses you gave me?” she said. 
“They fit as well as my own.” 

“They are your own,” laughed 
Bunny Jr. 


76 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Then Bunny Jr. told the whole 
story, and he said: 

“I wonder if Bushy-Tail has 
forgotten that it is almost time to 
play April Fool jokes.” 

“I am afraid not,” said Bunny 
Cotton-Tail. “He plays jokes on us 
all the year round.” 

“He will play a joke on me, I 
know,” said Bunny Jr., “because I 
played one on him.” 

“I am glad you did play one on 
him,” cried Bunny Cotton-Tail, “for 
you got Susan’s glasses back.” 

Susan Cotton-Tail said, “Bunny 
dear, please don’t put out any 
more signs. I was afraid we surely 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


77 


should have to rent our house this 
time.” 

Then Bunny Cotton-Tail laughed 
and said, “I will take down the 
sign.” He went out to take it down, 
and Bunny Jr. helped him. 


flPR;il>^POOL 


Bushy-Tail’s a sly old fox, 

He never kept a rule. 

He likes to play some silly trick, 
And then cry, “April Fool! ” 







CHAPTER VII 


April Fool’s Day had come and 
was almost over. The Cotton-Tails 
thought Bushy-Tail had forgotten 
all about it. 

Evening came and Bunny Cotton- 
Tail cried, “I hear wheels!” 

“Some one is out for a drive,” 
said Susan. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. clapped his 
little paws and cried, “They are 
stopping here I They are stopping 
here!” 

Sure enough, a big wagon drawn 
by two horses was stopping in front 
of the Cotton-Tails’ house. It was 
driven by a large, odd-looking rabbit 


80 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


whom the Cotton-Tails never had 
seen before, and it was pretty well 
filled with animals. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail and Susan and 
Bunny Jr. all ran to the front 
door. 

“Hurry, hurry! get in!” called 
the large, odd-looking rabbit. “You 
are all invited to go for a drive, 
and to take supper with me after¬ 
ward. Hurry, hurry! ” 

Now, it seemed strange to go for 
a drive and to take supper with a 
rabbit whom nobody knew. But 
the wagon was full of the Cotton- 
Tails’ friends. There were Grandpa 
Grumbles and the Teddy Bears, 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


81 


and ever so many others, and they 
all seemed to be having such fun! 

So Bunny helped Susan into the 
wagon and hopped in after her. 
After him hopped Bunny Jr. 

The odd-looking rabbit cracked 
his whip and off they went, and 
everything was as jolly as could be. 

The animals laughed and sang as 
they drove through the woods, and 
everybody was quite sorry when the 
odd-looking rabbit stopped his horses 
in front of a little house. 

“Hurry, hurry I get out, and go 
in!” he cried. “Hurry, hurry! for 
supper is all ready. I know it is, 
because I got it before I left home.” 


82 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


So every one got out of the 
wagon and went inside. Teddy Boy 
carried Grandpa 
Grumble’s big 
green umbrella. 

“My fur and 
whiskers, but it 
is cold for the 
first of April!” 
cried Bunny 
Cotton-Tail. 

“That’s why I 
have a fire in 
the stove,” said 
the odd-looking 
rabbit. 

“Heigh-ho for 



BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 83 

the fire! ” they all shouted. “What 
a nice coal stove!” 

Then they all crowded around 
the stove. 

“I don’t feel a bit of heat,” said 
Bunny Cotton-Tail. 

“But I see the fire,” said Susan. 

“I see the fire, too,” cried one 
after another of the animals. 

Then one of the Teddy Bears 
opened the door .of the stove, and 
what do you suppose? 

There was a candle burning inside, 
and no fire at all I 

The animals all laughed and 
shouted with glee. 

“What a joke!” they cried. 


84 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Then they all sat down at the 
supper table, and the odd-looking 
rabbit said, “Have some pudding. 
Help yourselves.” 

Grandpa Grumbles tried to help 
himself to pudding, but the spoon 
stuck fast in the dish and he could 
not get it out. Then the other 
animals tried, one after another, but 
no one could get the spoon out. 

Then the odd-looking rabbit said: 
“Have a cookie. Every one must 
have a cookie 1 ” 

All the animals took cookies. The 
first one cried, “It burns my mouth! ” 
and another one cried, “It burns 
my mouth! ” and of course the 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


85 


cookies burned their mouths, for 
they were full of red pepper 1 

Just at that minute the odd-looking 
rabbit made a bow and off came 
his ears! He made another bow and 
off came his head! Then he jumped 
out of the rabbit skin and stood 
before them, and they all shouted, 
“Bushy-Tail! ” 

“April Fool!” cried Bushy-Tail. 
Then he dashed through the window 
and was off and away before the 
party could say a word. 

“Oh, ow!” cried Teddy Boy. “I 
want my Ma! ” 

“Oh, ow! ” cried Teddy Oirl. “I 
want my Pa!” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


For once, Grandpa Grumbles was 
the most cheerful one of the party. 
He said: 

“April Fool’s Day comes only 
once a year, my children. And now 
we must find our way home.” 

Bunny Jr. said: “The wagon is 
still hitched outside.” 

“Come to my house,” cried Grandpa. 
“Spend the evening with me.” 

So they all scrambled back into 
the wagon and drove to Grandpa 
Grumbles’s house. When they got 
there Grandpa said: 

“Susan is a fine cook. She may 
go to the kitchen and make us 
something good.” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


87 


Susan went to the kitchen and 
made cookies for them all. 

“I hope you didn’t put in any 
pepper! ” cried Bunny, and they 
were very merry indeed. 

“What should we do if Bushy-Tail 
were to come in?” whispered Teddy 
Boy. 

“I know what to do,” said Bunny 
Cotton-Tail Jr. “Bushy-Tail always 
jumps in at the window.” 

Now, what do suppose that clever 
rabbit did? He got some of the 
other animals to help him get a 
big tub of water and put it in 
front of the window. 

And the very next minute—dashl 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


splash!—Bushy-Tail jumped through 
the window and right into the tub 
of water! 

Bushy-Tail choked and gasped. He 
scrambled out of the tub and the 
water streamed off his fur. He did 
not know what to make of it. 

“I have come to the wrong house, 
I guess,” he said. “But I didn’t 
know it was wash-day!” 

With that he turned and Jumped 
out through the window, and was off. 

The other animals stuck their heads 
out at the window and shouted after 
him, “April Fool! April Fool!” 

But Bushy-Tail didn’t even turn 
around to shake his paw at them. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


89 


Grandpa Grumbles laughed till he 
cried. 

“This has been a fine April Fools 
Day!” he shouted. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail cried: “Bushy- 
Tail played a good joke on us, but 
I think we played a better one on 
him!” 



They said to little Snubby-Nose, 
“For once, if you’ll be good, 
You may join our party, 

At a picnic in the wood.” 






CHAPTEE VIII 


One beautiful April day Bunny 
Cotton-Tail was wakened early. 

“I hear footsteps on the front 
walk!” he cried. 

“I am getting as deaf as a post,” 
Susan Cotton-Tail said. ‘T don’t hear 
a sound.” 

Then there came a rap on the 
door, and another and another, and 
Bunny-Cotton Tail Jr. said: 

‘‘Why will people rap and not use 
the door-bell? Shall I let the visitor 
in?” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail drew himself 
up very tall and said: 

“We don’t know whether we wish 

91 


92 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


to let this visitor in or not. I will 
go to the door.” 

So Bnnny Cotton-Tail put on his 
dressing gown and slippers and went 
downstairs. “Thninp! bnmp!” he 
went, for his old slippers were 
much too large for him. 

When he opened the door what 
do you suppose happened? 

The funniest little rabbit came in 
and jumped right upstairs, two steps 
at a time! 

“Hello, Susan!” cried the little 
rabbit. “I am Snubby-Hose Jr.” 

Then Bunny Cotton-Tail said: 

“My fur and whiskers! how much 
you look like the real Sniibby-Nose! ” 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


93 


Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. clasped his 
little paws together and cried, 
“Welcome! welcome! ” 

The new rabbit ran and kissed 
Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. right on the 
tip of his nose. Then he jumped 
on a table and upset a glass of 
water and ran downstairs, in less 
time than it takes to tell it. 

“He is the real Snubby-Hose, all 
over again,” said Susan. 

At breakfast. Bunny Cotton-Tail 
said, “The weather is so fine we 
ought to have a picnic.” 

“A picnic! a picnic! ” little Snubby- 
Hose shouted. “May I go? May I 
go?” 


94 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Just at this minute Grandpa 
Grumbles came in. 

“What are you all so merry 
about ? ” he asked. 

“We are planning a picnic,” Susan 
said. “Bnt what shall we do if 
Bnshy-Tail wishes to go?” 

“I will take care of Bushy-Tail,” 
said Grandpa Grumbles. “You may 
depend on me.” 

So the Cotton-Tail family planned 
the picnic for next day, and they 
invited all their friends to go. 

Quite early, the next morning, 
the animals met at the Cotton-Tails’ 
house. They all carried baskets and 
everybody was very happy. 



BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


95 


The clay was bright and pleasant, 
and the animals all sang songs as 
they walked through the woods. 
Soon they reached a beautiful spot, 
which they thought was just right 
for the picnic. It was beside a 
pretty little stream. 

“We had better begin to eat our 
lunch at once,” said Bunny Cotton- 
Tail. “Bushy-Tail may turn up at 
any time and make us no end of 
trouble.” 

Susan Cotton-Tail spread a cloth 
on the grass and all the animals 
opened their baskets and helped 
set the table. 

They were all ready to sit down 


96 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


when Snubby-Nose Jr. cried, “Where 
is Teddy Boy?” and Bunny Cotton- 
Tail cried, “Where is Teddy Girl?” 

At that very minute a splash 
was heard and Susan cried: 

“Oh, oh, oh I they have fallen 
into the water I ” 

The whole company ran farther 
up the stream and, sure enough, 
Teddy-Boy had fallen into the water, 
and Teddy Girl was trying to get 
him out. 

“Help, help I” shouted Bunny 
Cotton-Tail, and Old Grizzly jumped 
right into the water and caught 
Teddy Boy by his little red sweater, 
and got him out of the water. 



BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


97 


Then every one said, “Oh!” and 
“Ah!” and “Are you hurt, yon dear 
little bear ? ” 

I suppose those animals would 
have talked an hour, but Snubby- 
Nose Jr. called out; 

“Luncheon is ready. Why not eat 
it?” 

Then they all scampered back to 
enjoy the picnic. 

Suddenly a little squirrel began 
to chatter. Then a little rabbit 
began to scold, and soon all the 
animals were talking at once. Now 
what do you suppose was the matter? 
The big cake they had for dessert 
was gone! 


98 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“Who took the cake?” everybody 
asked. 

“It can’t have been Bushy-Tail,” 
said some one, “for Grandpa Grumbles 
has him safely locked up in his 

house.” 

Just the same, they could not 
find the cake. 

“The cake certainly is gone,” said 
Susan Cotton-Tail. 

At that moment Snubby-Hose Jr. 
set up a shout. 

He pointed with his paw, and 
all the animals looked. There sat 

Teddy Boy and Teddy Girl on the 
big cake, and they were eating 

little bits of the frosting! 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


99 


No one thought of punishing the 
Teddy Bears, for they were so little 
they did not know any better. 

After the meal was over the whole 
company recited verses and sang 
songs. Snubby-Nose Jr. said: 

know a little rabbit; 

His home is in the wood. 

He is not very naughty, 

And not so very good! ” 

They all shouted, “That rabbit is 
Snubby-Nose Jr!” 

Then Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. said: 

^ There was a little rabbit 
Who read by candle-light, 

He burned his paw, but did not cry, 

For he was most polite!” 


100 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


They all cried, “That was Bunny 
Cotton-Tail Jr!” 

Then Susan said, “It is going to 
storm. We must hurry home.” 

Sure enough, a big storm was 
coming up. 

They packed one basket full of 
the good things that were left over, 
and Bunny Cotton-Tail said: 

“Who will leave this at Glrandpa 
Grumbles’s house ? ” 

Every one of the animals shouted, 
“I will! I will!” 

At last it was decided that Teddy 
Boy and Teddy Girl should leave 
the basket, for they passed Grandpa 
Grumbles’s house on their way home. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


101 


Then all the animals went merrily 
homeward. 

When Teddy Girl and Teddy Boy 
reached Grandpa Grumbles’s house 
they set the basket down on the 
doorstep and peeped in at the 
window. 

They saw a strange sight! 

Bushy-Tail was so angry to think 
he had not gone to the picnic that 
he was running up and down the 
room, lashing his beautiful tail. 

“Grandpa Grumbles,” he shouted, 
“why didn’t you let me go to the 
picnic? Why didn’t you let me go 
to the picnic?” 

Grandpa Grumbles said, “You do 


102 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


not know how to behave at picnics, 
Bushy-Tail. That is why I clicl not 
let you go.” 

“I can behave as well as any one!” 
cried Bushy-Tail. 

“But you never do behave well,” 
said Grandpa. “You make trouble 
wherever you go.” 

Then Bushy-Tail lashed his tail 
and ran up and down some more. 

“I will not live with you!” he 
shouted. 

“Beggars cannot be choosers,” said 
Grandpa Grumbles. 

The two little Teddy Bears laughed 
softly and ran homeward through 
the woods. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


103 


“Bushy-Tail was caught in a trap 
that time,” said Teddy Boy. 

“Just think,” Teddy Girl said, “for 
once Grandpa Grumbles forgot to 
grumble! ” 



Poor little Teddy Girl is shy, 
Though she likes well to play, 
And she blushes when they cry, 
“Crown her queen of the May!” 


CHAPTER IX 


SiJSAH Cottox-Tail was as busy as 
could be, and what do you suppose 
she was doing ? She was washing 
and ironing and baking, for to-morrow 
would be the first of May. 

All the animals where going to have 
a party on May Day. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail was so stiff with 
rheumatism that he said he could not 
walk to save his life. He said they 
must have the party in his yard, and 
all the animals promised to come. 

Bushy-Tail came and set up the 
Maypole. 

“How that fellow can work if 
he tries 1” said Grandpa Grumbles. 

105 


106 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


All the animals were very merry, 
you may be sure, thinking about the 
first of May. 

Early next morning there was a 
knock at the Cotton-Tails’ door. 
Bunny Jr. went to the door, but no 
one was there. 

But what do you suppose was 
hanging on the door-knob? A beauti¬ 
ful May basket 1 And it was full of 
fiowers. 

“I wonder who sent it,” said Susan. 

Just then there was a great noise 
outside. 

“Oh, oh, oh!” cried Bunny Cotton- 
Tail, “let me get to the window, quick! ” 
and Bunny Jr. ran out. Susan sat 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


107 


quite still in her straight-backed chair 
and said: 

“My dears, what is the matter? I 
am so deaf I cannot hear a fly buzz!” 

Now, what do you suppose was the 
matter ? 

Grandpa Grumbles came running 
down the road. He was roaring, 
and sneezing, and waving his green 
cotton umbrella. 

He ran right into the Cotton- 
Tails’ house. 

“Bush-Tail did it!” he cried. 
“Bushy-Tail did it!” and he sneezed 
again and again. 

They asked Grandpa Grumbles to 
tell all about it, but he only 


108 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


walked up and down and roared. 
And he waved his old green cotton 
umbrella and sneezed and sneezed 
until Susan was frightened. 

Just at that minute Bunny Cotton- 
Tail began to sneeze. , Then Susan 
began to sneeze, and Bunny Jr. 
sneezed, too. 

At last Grandpa Grumbles said 
between sneezes, “It’s pepper, in 
my umbrella! ” 

With that Bunny Jr. took the 
green cotton umbrella and started 
to run but of the house. 

“Oh, oh! ” cried Grandpa Grumbles, 
“bring back my umbrella! I say, 
bring back my umbrella!” 




BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


109 


So Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. shook 
the umbrella and brought it inside 
again, 

“ITow,” said Bunny Cotton-Tail, 
wiping his eyes, “do tell us what 
has happened.” 

Then Grandpa Grumbles said: 

“I found a May basket outside 
my door this morning, and it had 
fruit in it—a-kitchew! —and I took 
a bite of the fruit, and—a-kitchew!— 
how I sneezed! The fruit had red 
pepper in it! Then I put on my 
coat and cap, and they were full 
of red pepper. And my umbrella 
was full of it, too,” 

“Bushy-Tail must have done it,” 


110 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


said Susan, ‘dt sounds like one of 
his jokes.” 

“My fur and whiskers!” said 
Bunny, “where did he get so much 
red pepper ?” 

“Perhaps he borrowed it from 
the neighbors,” said Susan. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. ran out of 
the room and soon came dancing 
back. He had Susan’s pepper-box 
in his hand, and it was empty! 

“I cannot go home,” said Hrandpa 
Grumbles. “Too much pepper!” 

“Hever mind; you may stay here,” 
said Susan. 

Soon the other animals began to 
come to the party, and all of them 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Ill 


brought baskets for a picnic luncheon. 
All the little rabbits and squirrels 
wore stiffly starched dresses. All the 
older ones wore new sunbonnets. 

They danced and sang for a while. 
Then some one asked, “Who shall be 
Queen of the May?” 

“Teddy Girl shall be Queen of the 
May!” some one else answered, and 
all the animals cried, “Yes! yes!” 

Teddy Girl blushed away down 
deep under her fur. Teddy Boy led 
her to a seat beneath the old apple 
tree, and they crowned her Queen 
of the May! 

Then they had the Maypole dance. 
But as they were about to unwind 


112 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


the ribbons the Maypole fell down, 
and they all scampered in every 
direction. 

Just then they heard some one 
calling. They looked around, and up 
and down. At last some one pointed 
to the roof of the Cotton-Tails’ house. 

They all looked up, and there they 
saw Bushy-Tail sitting, waving his 
tail. 

“Why didn’t you ask me to your 
picnic?” he shouted. 

“What shall we do with that fel¬ 
low!” said Susan. 

Grandpa Grumbles shook his um¬ 
brella at Bushy-Tail and Bushy-Tail 
saw him. He was afraid of Grandpa 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


113 


on account of the trick he had 
played with the pepper. So he 
climbed down the water-spout and 
ran away as fast as his legs could 
carry him. 

Then Grandpa Grumbles set up 
the Maypole and all the animals 
danced again and were very merry. 

They had a fine feast and when 
they were ready to go home they 
said, “Oh, Susan! we did enjoy the 
party so much!” and “Oh, Bunny! 
we hope you will invite us again!” 

They gathered up their baskets 
and shook one another’s paws and 
went home. 

Old Grizzly carried the little May 


114 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


Queen on his shoulder, and all the 
other animals shouted: 

“Hurrah for the Queen of the 
May! ” 

Teddy Boy called: “Come on, 
Grandpa Grumbles; it is time to go 
home.” 

Grandpa Grumbles shook his head 
sadly and waved his green cotton 
umbrella and said: 

“Too much pepper in my house. 
I cannot go home.” 

Next morning Grandpa Grumbles 
had a bad cold, and Susan said he 
must stay in bed. Then she put 
on her red sunbonnet and went out. 

All the animals were leaning over 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


115 


their fences, talking to their neighbors. 
One said, “Poor Orandpa Orumbles! 
he is getting old.” i 

Another said, “Just think of his 
house being full of red pepper!” 

So they talked, and when Susan 
came home she nodded her head 
very wisely. But she did not tell 
even Bunny Cotton-Tail what she 
was thinking about. 



“Bushy-Tail has joined the band,” 
All the rabbits cry. 

So they wave their paws and shout, 
“Bushy-Tail, good-by I ” 





CHAPTER* X 


All the good housewives among 
the animals got up very early next 
morning. They did not tell any one 
where they were going. They all 
carried buckets, and mops, and 
brooms. 

“Are you going fishing?” Bunny 
Cotton-Tail asked Susan. 

Susan laughed and shook her 
head. 

Bunny Cotton-Tail Jr. said: “You 
look as though you were going to 
join a circus.” 

All day long the housewives 
passed Bunny Cotton-Taifis house, 
and they all seemed to be in a 

117 


118 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


great hurry. Some of the children 
went with their mothers. 

Where do you suppose the animals 
were going? 

They were going to clean house 
for Grandpa Grumbles. They went 
to his house and swept and mopped 
the floor and washed and scrubbed 
all day. 

“No wonder he grumbles!” said 
Susan. “No one can see through 
these dirty windows.” 

Just then little Pink-Ears set up 
a shout. She had gone up to the 
garret, and there- she saw a great 
big grab-bag hanging on a nail. 

Her mother ran up, and she said 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


119 


to Pink-Ears: “You must not touch 
it! You must wait until you are 
invited to grab!” 

Pink-Ears said, “I wish we might 
grab now!” And even after they 
had all gone downstairs again she 
kept teasing to grab. 

I don’t know what they would 
have done with Pink-Ears if Grandpa 
Grumbles himself had not come 
hobbling in. Bunny Cotton-Tail was 
with him. Grandpa looked surprised. 

“I am glad to see my friends,” 
he said. Then he sat down on the 
sofa and cried: 

“Whew! how clean the floors look! 
Whew! how clean the windows are!” 



120 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“My fur and whiskers!” Bunny 
Cotton-Tail said, “your house does 
look clean I ” 

Then Pink-Ears cried: “Oh, Grand¬ 
pa, may we grab from your old 
grab-bag ?” 

Grandpa Grumbles laughed and 
chuckled and said: 

“Up to the garret as fast as your 
legs can carry you!” And every one 
went up. 

“Susan shall grab first,” said Grandpa 
Grumbles. 

Susan put in her paw and drew 
out a long case. 

“Open it!” everybody cried. “Open 
it and see what is inside!” 



BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


121 


. Susan opened the case and drew 
out a wonderful pair of spectacles. 
She put them on and said: 

“I feel forty years younger! Now 
I can see as well as anybody. Thank 
you, Grandpa Grumbles, thank you!” 

Grandpa Grumbles said, “Pink-Ears 
may grab next.” 

Pink-Ears put in her paw and 
drew out a little cabbage made of 
candy. She made her prettiest bow 
and said, “Thank you. Grandpa dear!” 

“Teddy Boy and Teddy Girl may 
grab together,” said Grandpa Grumbles. 
They grabbed and each got a pretty 
little cap. They put on the caps 
and went dancing around the garret. 


122 BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 

So the animals kept on grabbing 
and every one got a present. Then 
it was time to go home, and all 
the animals went aWay happy. Grand¬ 
pa Grumbles called after them: 

“Thank yon for the surprise party, 
and my nice clean house!” 

Bunny Cotton-Tail stayed at Grand¬ 
pa’s and they had a long talk. At 
last Bunny said: 

“I have been wondering all day 
what we could do with Bushy-Tail. 
Beally, something must be done with 
Bushy-Tail.” 

Grandpa Grumbles shook his head. 

“I have been thinking about it 
all day, too,” he said. 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


123 


Just then Grandpa and Bunny 
heard music. They ran to the door, 
and what do you think they saw? 
A circus procession was coming 
along, right through the woods. 
There were black horses and white 
horses, and little ponies, and camels, 
and elephants. And there was a 
clown, tool He was singing a song. 

At that moment Bushy-Tail came 
along, all out of breath, and he 
ran up on the doorstep where 
Grandpa Grumbles and Bunny Cotton- 
Tail stood. 

Just then the fat old gentleman 
who owned the circus looked up 
and the clown stopped singing. The 


124 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


horses stopped prancing, too. In 
fact, the whole procession stopped 
right in front of Grandpa Grumbles’s 
house. 

The fat old gentleman stepped 
up to Grandpa Grumbles and said: 

“Beg pardon, but that is a fine- 
looking fox. Can he do any tricks?” 

Then Bunny Cotton-Tail laughed 
until his sides nearly split, and 
Grandpa Grumbles nodded. 

Bushy-Tail stood on his head and 
jumped up in the air. He grabbed 
Grandpa Grumbles’s old green cotton 
umbrella and held it over his head, 
and went prancing about as though 
he were a fine lady. 



BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


125 


Then he grabbed the fat gentle¬ 
man’s cap and ran along beside 
the band wagon and said, “Pennies, 
please.” 

Then the fat old gentleman and 
all the people in the procession 
laughed until they cried. 

The fat old gentleman said, “He 
will do!” 

It seems the fox that belonged 
to the circus had died and the fat 
gentleman wanted a fox to travel 
with them. 

“JSlo pleasure to show goods. If 
you see anything you don’t want, 
ask for it!” shouted Bushy-Tail. 

The fat old gentleman was so 


126 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


pleased at this that he offered to 
pay one hundred dollars for Bushy- 
Tail. 

But Grandpa Grumbles explained 
that Bushy-Tail did not belong to 
anybody, and that all the other 
animals would be glad to get rid of 
him. 

So the fat gentleman put his 
money back into his pocket and 
Bushy-Tail ran and jumped up into 
the band wagon. 

Bushy-Tail began to beat time 
with his tail. One of the drummers 
gave him a little drum and Bushy- 
Tail beat that. 

“He is perfectly tame,” shouted 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


127 


Grandpa Grumbles, “but 
he has no manners!” 

“Be careful or he will 
play tricks on you 1 ” 
called Bunny Cotton- 
Tail. 

Then the cir¬ 
cus procession 
moved on, and 
Bushy-Tail rode 
away in the band 
wagon, in very grand style. 

When the last of the procession 
was out of sight Grandpa Grumbles 
and Bunny Cotton-Tail sat down on 
the doorstep and laughed until they 
cried. 



128 


BUNNY COTTON-TAIL JR. 


“Well,” said Girandpa, “I really 
believe we have gotten rid of Bushy- 
Tail at lastl” 

“Yes,” said Bunny Cotton-Tail. 
“And now I must go home and tell 
Susan what has happened.” 

Bunny went home and told Susan 
and Susan ran out and told all the 
neighbors. They all talked and talked 
about what had happened. 

And for all I know, the animals 
in the woods are talking about it yet. 





u I 


DEC 2 1912 




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